JaMarcus Russell Getting "Close" to $3 Million From Raiders in Settlement; Oakland Paying $49.6 Million in 2013 to Players They Don't Have

JaMarcus Russell was a $36 million mistake the Raiders made when they drafted him first in 2007, and six years later, they’re still paying for it. From the San Francisco Chronicle:

The Raiders are paying former quarterback JaMarcus Russell close to $3 million in a settlement over his disputed rookie contract, league sources said.

He had been paid $36.4 million and was still owed $3 million at the time of his release. The Raiders filed a grievance against Russell, seeking repayment of $9.55 million in salary advances, and Russell filed a grievance of his own, saying he was owed an additional $9 million.

As if you needed further proof the Raiders are the biggest joke in the league – you’re off the hook for now, Jacksonville – Oakland is paying players not on their roster in 2013 a whopping $49.6 million, according to the Chronicle.

One could argue the Raiders have the weakest roster, top-to-bottom, in the NFL. Matt Flynn or rookie Tyler Wilson will start at QB, and while Darren McFadden is capable of a monster year – see 2010 – he’s only played 19 games in the last two seasons due to a litany of injuries. They’ve got a bunch of #2 and #3 wide receivers. The tight ends listed on this depth chart had a total of nine receptions in 2012.

The defense? Below average in every category, except sacks, where they had just 25, 2nd worst in the NFL. I think by the end of September, Charles Woodson will be getting asked by reporters, “why did you come back here for your last hurrah?”